Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Aqaba Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Aqaba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $925 in Aqaba, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $1,423 in Aqaba, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $1,921 in Aqaba, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 58% more than Aqaba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while Aqaba is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Aqaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07 MX$228
$2.77 JOD 1.96
371.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$936
$48.99 JOD 34.69
9.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.68 MX$169
$4.19 JOD 2.97
131.03%
Cappuccino
$3.74 MX$65.1
$4.17 JOD 2.95
-10.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.13
$0.48 JOD 0.34
237.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$20.23
$0.37 JOD 0.26
213.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$5.78 JOD 4.09
-44.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74 MX$82.5
$7.02 JOD 4.97
-32.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Aqaba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.68
$1.39 JOD 0.99
18.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 MX$47.95
$0.51 JOD 0.36
439.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.63
$1.70 JOD 1.20
10.00%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$43.54
$1.72 JOD 1.22
45.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.20 MX$178
$5.53 JOD 3.91
84.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.25 MX$144
$4.19 JOD 2.97
96.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 MX$206
$9.72 JOD 6.88
21.60%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 MX$52.4
$1.39 JOD 0.98
116.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.54
$1.38 JOD 0.98
31.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.81
$1.03 JOD 0.73
94.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.74
$0.69 JOD 0.49
189.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.30
$0.69 JOD 0.49
201.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.56
$0.70 JOD 0.50
224.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$25.36
$0.60 JOD 0.42
143.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.74
$0.55 JOD 0.39
96.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 MX$75.7
$3.61 JOD 2.56
20.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 MX$296
$16.67 JOD 11.80
1.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.18
$2.78 JOD 1.97
-37.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 MX$62.3
$2.53 JOD 1.79
41.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Aqaba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.69 MX$325
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 MX$23.08
$0.51 JOD 0.36
160.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.87
$1.45 JOD 1.02
-80.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.25 MX$91.5
$7.16 JOD 5.07
-26.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.27
$1.40 JOD 0.99
-4.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K MX$338.0K
$27.4K JOD 19.4K
-29.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$415.0K
$30.7K JOD 21.7K
-22.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Aqaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.69 MX$709
$107 JOD 75.4
-61.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87 MX$468
$17.26 JOD 12.22
55.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51 MX$531
$31.92 JOD 22.60
-4.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Aqaba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 MX$919
$69.1 JOD 48.93
-23.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65 MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 MX$113
$11.27 JOD 7.98
-42.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Aqaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$428 MX$7,454
$276 JOD 195
55.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$182.8K
$2,842 JOD 2,012
269.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Aqaba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 MX$997
$27.68 JOD 19.59
106.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50 MX$792
$42.15 JOD 29.84
7.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,812
$42.60 JOD 30.16
144.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,878
$70.6 JOD 50.0
52.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Aqaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,003 MX$17.5K
$315 JOD 223
218.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.8K
$262 JOD 186
137.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,109 MX$36.7K
$740 JOD 524
185.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 MX$21.2K
$492 JOD 349
147.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,885 MX$67.6K
$1,149 JOD 814
238.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,033 MX$35.4K
$567 JOD 401
258.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Aqaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,038 MX$18.1K
$566 JOD 401
83.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
7.27
55.98%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Aqaba: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $315 in Aqaba. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 83% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $49.00 in Aqaba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $187 – making Aqaba the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mexico City vs Aqaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aqaba cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 58%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $1,387 in Aqaba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aqaba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Aqaba?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,456 in Mexico City and $925 in Aqaba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $428 per month in Mexico City and $276 in Aqaba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Aqaba?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aqaba, where all-in costs run around $925, than in Mexico City at $1,456. In Aqaba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Aqaba more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Aqaba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Aqaba?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Aqaba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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